KHARTOUM, Oct. 19 (Xinhua) -- The ground-based air defenses of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) shot down two suicide drones targeting the area around Khartoum International Airport in the eastern part of the Sudanese capital early Monday, according to a Sudanese military source and eyewitnesses.
The drones flew over the Burri and Imtidad Nasir areas east of the airport before being intercepted by the army's ground-based air defenses, the military source told Xinhua.
The source added that falling debris from the interception killed one person inside a civilian building in eastern Khartoum.
An eyewitness in eastern Khartoum told Xinhua that he saw a drone flying over the area early Monday before hearing ground-based air defenses engaging it.
Khartoum International Airport resumed operations in February 2026 after being out of service since fighting broke out between the SAF and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in April 2023.
Drone use in military operations between the SAF and the RSF has been increasing, with attacks extending to areas far from the direct front lines.
On Sunday, the SAF announced that it had targeted RSF positions in Nyala, South Darfur State, as well as in the areas of Abu Zaima, Al-Dibab and Al-Khuwai in West Kordofan State.
Meanwhile, RSF-operated drones attacked military and government facilities in the eastern states of Gedaref and Kassala over the previous two days.
Sudan has been embroiled in an armed conflict between the SAF and the RSF since mid-April 2023, resulting in thousands of deaths and the displacement of millions of people. ■
